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Abstract:

The eye sampling device (10) comprises supporting means (12) comprising a
sampling surface (11), the supporting means being elastically deformable
between a rest position and a sampling position and conformed so that,
upon being used for sampling, the sampling surface applied in the
sampling position in a coinciding way onto a sampling area (2), is
detached therefrom according to a peeling movement when passing from the
sampling position to a rest position.

Claims:

1. An eye sampling device (10) comprising supporting means (12;112;212)
comprising a sampling surface (11;111;211;311;411;511), characterized in
that the supporting means are elastically deformable between a rest
position and a sampling position and conformed so that, upon being used
for sampling, the sampling surface applied in the sampling position in a
coinciding way onto a sampling area (2;402;502), is detached therefrom
according to a peeling movement when passing from the sampling position
to a rest position.

2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the sampling
surface, in the rest position, includes at least one high point (122) and
at least one low point (121), both distinct so that during the peeling
movement, a detachment line gradually passes from the high point (122) to
the low point (121).

3. The device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the
supporting means are conformed so that, upon being used for sampling, the
sampling surface is applied onto the sampling area, according to a
movement opposite to the peeling movement when passing from a rest
position to a sampling position.

4. The device according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that
the supporting means include a block of elastomeric material or of foam
(12).

5. The device according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that
the supporting means include a flexible blade (112).

6. The device according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that
the supporting means include a series of spring blades (212).

7. The device according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that
the sampling surface is substantially planar (11).

8. The device according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that
the sampling surface has a section (111;211;311) of generally
cross-sectional convex shape.

9. The device according to any of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that
the sampling surface includes a sampling support and attachment means
(13,14) on the supporting means.

10. The device according to claim 9, characterized in that the attachment
means comprise an edge (13,14) including an extending protrusion which
juts out, intended to cooperate with a notch (15,16) of supporting means
of substantially complementary shape.

11. The device according to any of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that
it further includes a body (30) and a piston forming component (20)
intended to be slidably moved in the body against elastic return means
(24), the supporting means being attached on one end (22) of the piston
forming component.

12. The device according to claim 11, characterized in that the body
includes means (33,34) for separating the sampling surface from the
supporting means.

13. The device according to claim 12, characterized in that the
separation means include shoulders (33,34) intended to bear upon the
attachment means (13,14) in order to disengage them.

Description:

[0001] The invention relates to a device with which conjunctival
impressions may be taken.

[0002] The conjunctival impression technique was developed at the end of
the 1970s and is now an accepted technique allowing conjunctival
epithelial cells to be collected from the conjunctival mucosa which is an
immunologically reactive and complex tissue, in a quasi-painless and
non-invasive way, for purposes of analyses and diagnose. The most
superficial cells of the conjunctival epithelium, i.e. the cells
undergoing desquamation, are collected by this technique. Conjunctival
epithelium renews itself from the basal layers, and the most superficial
cells which have reached their final differentiation are regularly
discharged into the lachrymal fluid. It is this surface layer comprising
the terminally differentiated conjunctival cells, which may be sampled by
the conjunctival impression for subsequent analysis.

[0003] There are three types of cell populations which may be found on
conjunctival impressions: [0004] epithelial covering cells which apart
from their participation in coating the conjunctival mucosa, are involved
in many biological reactions, particularly in inflammatory and apoptotic
processes; [0005] goblet cells (mucus-secreting cells) which release
soluble mucins in the tear film, and which play major defense and
regulatory roles at in the ocular surface; and, [0006] inflammatory cells
including dendritic cells known for their property of immunocompetence,
Langerhans cells and also lymphocyte populations localized in the
epithelium.

[0007] With conjunctival impressions, various cell populations, their
size, number, density and pathological modifications may be analyzed and
important information may be provided on the status of the eye surface.
They also provide information on the conjunctival attack, notably in the
field of the dry eye, iatrogenic pathologies induced by collyria,
pathologies of the limbus and chronic inflammation of the eye surface.

[0008] In order to take a conjunctival impression, the most current
present method consists in using membrane filters commonly used in
biochemical industry, the most often in cellulose ester (a mixture of
cellulose ester and cellulose nitrate) or in polyethersulfone, for
example, and which are applied on the conjunctiva, generally without any
local anesthesia. The sampling is totally bloodless, painless and
non-invasive contrary to other more aggressive systems such as brushing
or biopsy. During the sampling, the filter is generally applied on the
upper bulbar conjunctiva of the eye, protected by the eyelid and removed
after a contact of 3-5 seconds. The desquamating conjunctival cells then
adhere to the membrane surface and form a thin and homogenous cell layer.
The filters are then treated in order to recover the cells to be
analyzed.

[0009] Within the scope of scientific evaluations or when the examinations
will be repeated, the impression should always be taken at the same
location because there are disparities in the distribution of the sampled
cells on the bulbar conjunctiva. This is neither obvious nor easy with
the present sampling methods which remain relatively manual even today,
in spite of various attempts to improve the procedure (different
materials, porosities, holding devices . . . etc.). They are relatively
cumbersome and time-consuming for a clinician or a pathologist within the
scope of routine daily use.

[0010] An object of the invention is to provide a device for taking an eye
impression which is simple to implement while supplying reliable and
reproducible sampled impressions.

[0011] For this purpose, provision is made according to the invention for,
an eye sampling device comprising supporting means comprising a sampling
surface, the supporting means being elastically deformable between a rest
position and a sampling position and conformed so that, upon being used
for sampling, the sampling surface applied in the sampling position in a
coinciding way onto a sampling area (2;402;502), is detached therefrom
according to a peeling movement when passing from the sampling position
to a rest position.

[0012] Thus, by the use of elastically deformable supporting means bearing
the sampling surface and conformed in order to allow the latter to be
detached from the eye sampling area according to a peeling movement, eye
impressions which are of optimum quality, may be obtained reliably and
reproducibly. Further, this allows a sampling device to be produced,
which is simple to use.

[0013] Advantageously, but optionally, the device according to the
invention has at least one of the following features: [0014] the
sampling surface, in the rest position, includes at least one high point
and at least one low point, both distinct so that during the peeling
movement, a detachment line gradually passes from the high point to the
low point; [0015] the supporting means are conformed so that, upon being
used for sampling, the sampling surface is applied onto the sampling
area, according to a movement opposite to the peeling movement when
passing from a rest position to a sampling position; [0016] the
supporting means include a block of elastomeric material or of foam;
[0017] the supporting means include a flexible blade; [0018] the
supporting means include a series of spring blades; [0019] the sampling
surface is substantially planar; [0020] the sampling surface has a
section of generally cross-sectional convex shape; [0021] the sampling
surface includes a sampling support and attachment means on the
supporting means; [0022] the attachment means comprise an edge including
an extending protrusion which juts out, intended to cooperate with a
notch of supporting means of substantially complementary shape; [0023]
the device further includes a body and a piston forming component
intended to be slidably moved in the body against elastic return means,
the supporting means being attached on one end of the piston forming
component; [0024] the body includes means for separating the sampling
surface from the supporting means; and, [0025] the separation means
include shoulders (33,34) intended to bear upon the attachment means
(13,14) in order to disengage them.

[0026] Other features and advantages of the invention will emerge from the
description hereinafter of a preferred embodiment and also of variants.
In the appended drawings:

[0027] FIGS. 1a and 1b are schematic views of the sampling kinematics
achieved by a device according to the invention;

[0028] FIGS. 2a and 2b are schematic views of alternative embodiments of
the deformable portion of the device according to the invention;

[0029] FIGS. 3a-3c are schematic views of alternative embodiments of the
sampling surface of the device according to the invention;

[0030]FIG. 4 is a half-sectional view of an embodiment of the device
according to the invention;

[0031]FIG. 5 is a simplified cross-sectional view of the kinematics for
recovering the eye impression taken by the device of FIG. 4;

[0032]FIG. 6 is a perspective schematic view illustrating the shape of
the impression taken by the device of FIG. 4;

[0033] FIGS. 7a and 7b are three-dimensional schematic views of
alternative shapes of impressions taken by a device according to the
invention; and,

[0034]FIG. 8 is an anatomical view of an eye intended to receive the
device according to the invention.

[0035] As a liminary remark, the sampling area 2 of an eye impression is
located on the conjunctiva, an area located at the periphery of the
cornea, which extends from the limbus which delimits the junction between
the cornea (nominal diameter of the cornea: about 12 mm for an adult) and
the sclera, and extends outwardly to an area externally delimited by a
circle with a diameter of about 22 mm and centered on the cornea. For
example, as illustrated in FIG. 6, the sampling area 2 (and therefore the
sampling surface 11) is ring-shaped with an inner diameter of about 12 mm
and an outer diameter of about 17 mm. For a child, whose eye has not
reached the adult size, these dimensions have to be adapted in
proportion.

[0036] The area 2 for taking an eye impression is moreover located on the
eyeball which may be assimilated to a sphere with a diameter of 24 mm+/-1
mm, except at the cornea. The eye's anatomy is recalled and illustrated
in FIG. 8.

[0037] With reference to FIGS. 1a and 1b, we shall describe the sampling
kinematics of a device 10 for taking an eye impression according to the
invention.

[0038] This kinematics is important in order to ensure reliability and
reproducibility as well as quality of the eye impressions taken by means
of the device 10 according to the invention in order to maximize the
quality of the sampled cells while maintaining their integrity.

[0039] As a matter of principle, the device 10 according to the invention
includes a piston forming component 30 having an end 22 on which
supporting means 12 are attached. These supporting means 12 are
elastically deformable between a rest position illustrated in FIG. 1a and
a sampling position illustrated in FIG. 1b. On the other hand, these
supporting means include a sampling face or surface 11 which is intended
to face and to be pressed against a sampling area 2 of an eye 1. This
sampling surface is made in one or more suitable materials forming a
support for taking eye impressions and moreover known to one skilled in
the art. Finally, the sampling surface, when the supporting means 12 are
in the rest position, has at least one low point 121 (or low contact
line) and at least one high point 122 (or high contact line), along a
longitudinal axis of the device depending on the direction in which a
sampling movement is performed.

[0040] This sampling movement is obtained by presenting the sampling
surface 11 in a non-parallel or non-coinciding way towards the sampling
area 2 of the eye surface. Thus, the sampling surface 11, defined by a
planar geometry here, is presented so as to face the sampling area 2 of
the eye surface according to a given orientation, so that, at the time of
contact between both surfaces, there is no coincidence of these surfaces.
Indeed, contact between the sampling surface 11 and the sampling area 2
of the eye 1 is initiated by the contact of the low point (or low line)
121 on said sampling area and proceed by moving this contact point (or
line) along the sampling surface 11, by sweeping through the latter,
right up to the high point (or high line) 122 which lastly comes into
contact with the sampling area 2, and this under the effect of a movement
along the longitudinal axis of the device 10 according to the invention
as illustrated by the arrow of FIG. 1a. As the contact of the sampling
surface 11 gradually advances on the sampling area 2 of the eye surface,
the sampling surface 11 gradually deforms so as to become coincident with
the sampling area 2 of the eye surface. This deformation also affects the
supporting means 12 which deform elastically, until the sampling surface
11 is <<stuck>> on, i.e. intimately contacting, the sampling
area 2 of the eye 1 as this is illustrated in FIG. 1b. There is then
coincidence in all points between the sampling surface 11 and the
sampling area 2.

[0041] The sampling support, once it is placed on the eye 1, is then
detached from the eye 1 in the least traumatic way, by exerting a peeling
movement. Indeed, with a stress mode of the peeling type, concentrated
stresses may exist at the location of the detachment which, here, is a
point on the schematic view of FIGS. 1a and 1b (or a line passing through
this point) and which, during detachment, passes from the high point (or
high line) 122 to the low point (or low line) 121, while the sampling
surface 11 under the effect of the supporting means 12 which gradually
resume their initial resting shape under the effect of the elastic
forces, initial shape which does not coincide with the sampling area 2 of
the eye 1.

[0042] The supporting means 12 are made in a block of elastically
deformable material such as a foam or a suitable elastomer (elastic
polymer): polyurethane, polyethylene, silicone foam, a thermoplastic
elastomer such as Styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene (SEBS),
Styrene-ethylene/propylene-styrene (SEPS) ethylene-propylene
copolymer/polypropylene (EPDM-PP), polyether block amides (PEBAX),
polyurethane or further a vulcanizable elastomers such as silicone
rubber, latex, polybutadiene, a fluorinated elastomer, polychloroprene,
polyisoprene . . . etc.

[0043] Two alternative embodiments of the supporting means are illustrated
in FIGS. 2a and 2b. In FIG. 2a, the supporting means are produced as a
flexible blade 112 mounted on the component 20 forming a piston via a
supporting rod. In FIG. 2b, the supporting means are produced as a plate
supported by spring blades 212, for example made in plastic, in metal or
any other material having similar elastic properties.

[0044] Likewise, with reference to FIGS. 3a-3c, the sampling surface
alternatively has different convex sectional geometries: [0045] as a
quarter of a circle or an ellipse (FIG. 3a) [0046] as a half-circle or
half-ellipse (FIG. 3b) [0047] as a substantially triangular or conical
tip (FIG. 3c) which respectively corresponds to volume portions of
spheres or ellipsoids.

[0048] For these different geometries, the sampling surface 111,211,311
always has a low point and at least one high point in order to be able to
allow the sampling movement according to the kinematics described
earlier, with reference to FIGS. 1a and 1b. Thus, regardless of the
geometry, the contact between the sampling surface 11,111,211,311 and the
sampling area 2 of the eye surface is gradually made and as a dynamic
contact point or/and then line gradually sweeping through the sampling
area right up to intimate contact between both surfaces, the sampling
surface being deformed as well as the supporting means.

[0049] Upon removing or detaching the sampling surface, the progressive
movement of this same dynamic contact line is the inverse of the movement
performed during the contacting.

[0050] Thus, the detachment movement is analogous to a peeling movement
with which the cells of the sampling area 2 may be gradually detached
from the eye surface, which have then adhered onto the sampling support
of the sampling surface. This adhesion on the sampling support is
achieved according to different well-known principles: by hydrophilicity,
by standard surface tension, by adhesion of the cell mucus, or anionic
electrostatic charges of the cells.

[0051] With reference to FIG. 4, we shall describe an embodiment of a
device 10 for taking eye impressions according to the invention which
applies the principles and characteristics described earlier. The device
10 here is ring-shaped with a longitudinal axis X-X. It includes a piston
20. The piston 20 includes an upper end 23 comprising an interface for
applying said piston 20. It includes an opposite end 22 substantially
perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X-X on which the supporting means
12 are positioned and attached, here as a sectional shape of a
elastomeric trapezoidal block (or of a block formed with a truncated
cylinder, an upper end of which is perpendicular to the axis, in contact
on the end 22 of the piston 20 and an opposite lower face tilted with
respect to said axis). These supporting means 12 as seen earlier, are
elastically deformable between a rest position and a sampling position.
An end of the supporting means 12, tilted with respect to the
longitudinal axis, bears the sampling surface 11.

[0052] This sampling surface 11 includes the sampling support intended to
collect an eye impression upon sampling on a sampling area 2 of the eye
1. The sampling support includes at the periphery, around the sampling
surface 11, a flexible edge 13, 14 (added by insert-molding, adhesive
bonding, welding . . . etc.), this edge having a protrusion directed
radially towards the supporting means 12, which will fit onto a notch 15,
16 located on the perimeter of the supporting means 12. Once it is in
place, the edge 13, 14 extends and protrudes from the supporting means
12.

[0053] In the case illustrated in FIG. 4, as the device 10 according to
the invention is ring-shaped, the sampling support is itself also
ring-shaped and includes a first edge 13 on a radially inner periphery
and a second edge 14 on a radially outer periphery. Also, the supporting
means 12 are ring-shaped and include a first notch 15 on a radially inner
face into which the protrusion of the first edge 13 will fit and a second
notch 16 on a radially outer face into which the protrusion of the second
edge 14 will fit.

[0054] The piston 20 is slidably mounted in a body 30 of the device 10
according to the invention and this against an elastic return means 21,
here as a compression spring. The body 30 includes a first radially inner
wall including an end 32 intended to come into contact with the eye 1
during sampling. Additionally, the radially inner wall of the body 30
includes a radially outer shoulder 34, optionally with a frusto-conical
shape, the role of which will be described subsequently with reference to
FIG. 5.

[0055] Given that the conjunctiva is a very mobile tissue relatively to
the underlying sclera S, that the eye 1 is capable of reflex eye
movements upon sampling (with the risk of damaging the sample by a
shearing effect between the sampling support placed on the conjunctiva
and the conjunctiva), that the conjunctiva is attached at the limbus L
and since there is a change in the radius of curvature between the cornea
C and the sclera S, the end 32 of the device 10 according to the
invention includes a semi-circular supporting area intended to come into
contact, by fitting its contour, with the limbus L of the eye 1, thereby
ensuring proper positioning on the one hand and properly maintaining the
relative position between the eye and the device according to the
invention during the sampling, on the other hand.

[0056] The body 30 further includes a second radially outer wall
comprising an end 31 intended to come into contact with the eye 1 during
sampling. Additionally, the radially outer wall of the body 30 includes a
radially inner shoulder 33, the role of which will be described
subsequently with reference to FIG. 5.

[0057] Given that the edges of the eyelids are often contaminated by
bacterial strains different from those present at the eye surface, there
is a risk of contamination of the taken sample specifically dedicated to
the analysis of this surface. Consequently, before putting the sampling
support in contact with the sampling area of the eye, the surface
including the sampling area of the edge of the eyelids has to be
isolated. This is the role of the end 31 which is conformed in order to
face the eyelid, by being accommodated below the eyelid, while
maintaining the latter open and preventing any crossed contamination
between the sample and the eyelid. For this, the end 31 has a foot-shaped
section, the sole of which has a section of a concave shape mating that
of the eye surface upon which the end 31 is intended to bear during
sampling, the eyelid will then come into contact and be retained by the
top of said foot.

[0058] On the other hand, it should be noted that the eye surface is
covered with a lachrymal film consisting of tears and of a thin layer of
lipids secreted by the Meibomian glands located at the lid margin of the
lower and upper eyelids. This thin lipidic and hydrophobic layer will
limit or prevent adhesion of the cells on the highly hydrophilic surface
of the sampling support. Consequently, before having the sampling support
come into contact with the sampling area of the eye, the tear film has to
be broken. This is the additional role of the ends 31 and 32 of the body
30. For this, these ends 31 and 32 are made in or covered with a
semi-rigid or elastomeric (so as not to injure the eye surface and to
achieve intimate contact with the latter) material and which is both
absorbent and lipophilic so as to absorb the lipid portion of the tear
film at the sampling area of the sampling surface thereby delimited by
these ends 31 and 32.

[0059] With reference to FIG. 5, we shall describe operation of the device
10 for taking an eye impression according to the invention which has just
been described.

[0060] The device 10 according to the invention is placed on the eye 1 so
that the end 32 of the body 30 will contact the limbus L and that the end
31 of the body 31 is inserted under the eyelids. Next, pressure is
exerted on the end 23 of piston 20 in order to accomplish the sampling.
This pressure is exerted along the longitudinal axis X-X and oriented
towards the eye (see the arrow of FIG. 4). The sampling support 11 is
then pressed on the eye according to the sampling kinematics which was
described earlier with reference to FIGS. 1a and 1b. After a few seconds,
the pressure on the end 23 of the piston 20 is released, the so
compressed springs 24 exert a return force on the piston 20 forcing it to
slide in the body 30 along the longitudinal axis X-X in the direction of
the arrow as illustrated in FIG. 6. The sampling support 11 is driven by
the piston and is delicately detached according to the peeling movement
described earlier. There is no suction cup effect between the sampling
support 11 and sampling area 2 of the eye. The device 10 is then removed
from the eye.

[0061] Now the sampling support 11 remains to be recovered in order to be
able to carry out the intended analyses. Recovery of the sampling support
11 is performed after having placed at least the portion including the
sampling support 11 of the device according to the invention inside a
collecting means, such as for example a collecting tube.

[0062] The piston 20 is then pulled backwards according to the arrow of
FIG. 6 and the edges 14 and 13 of the sampling support 11 will bear upon
the shoulders 33 and 34 of the body 30. As the movement of the piston 20
being pulled backwards continues, the edges 14 and 13 retained by the
shoulders 33 and 34, each protrusion of the edges 14 and 13 are then
disengaged from the notches 16 and 15 of the supporting means 12,
respectively. The sampling support 11 is detached and falls into the
collecting means.

[0063] Alternatively, the detachment of the sampling support 11 is carried
out according to a gradual movement defined by the initial position of
the shoulders 33 and 34 along the travel covered by the piston 20 when it
is pulled backwards in the body 30: the edge 14 will first bear upon the
shoulder 33 and its protrusion disengages from the notch 16, and then the
edge 14 will first bear upon the shoulder 34 and its protrusion
disengages from the notch 15, thereby releasing the sampling support 11.
For this, the shoulders 33 and 34 are not located at a same height along
the axis of the device and the edges 14 and 13 themselves are not at the
same height, which is the case in the example of FIG. 5. Alternatively,
the shoulders 33 and 34 are located at a same height along the axis of
the device and the edges 14 and 13 themselves are not at the same height.
In still another alternative, the shoulders 33 and 34 are not located at
a same height along the axis of the device and the edges 14 and 13
themselves are at the same height.

[0064] The sampling support 11 falls into the collecting means without any
other handling from behalf of the user and with very limited contact with
open air. This thereby reduces the risks of accidental contamination
(desirable for analyzing the germs present at the eye surface and
detecting infestations of microorganisms, for example) and of damage
before utilization.

[0065] Indeed, cytology for example requires the cells to be very well
attached onto the sampling support 11 so as to be marked with fluorescent
markers and allow observation by conventional microscopy (with
transparization of the support) or confocal microscopy.

[0066] Cytometry as for it, requires the cells to adhere as much as
possible on the support, while allowing to be easily detached when
desirable into a collecting solution with order to proceed to cell
counting and sorting.

[0067] Finally, sample analysis by means of polymerase chain reaction
(PCR), assumes destruction of the sampling support into the products used
for cell lysis allowing DNA extraction.

[0068] By using the device according to the invention, eye impressions may
be optimized to the various kinds of analysis techniques by using
different supports adapted to the analysis procedure.

[0069] The sampling support 11 is here an insert-molded membrane filter
type with a flexible plastic edge (which has the advantage of being a
versatile solution, allowing the use of several types of membranes).
Alternatively, it is possible to mould a shaped one-piece part
(membrane+edge) in a plastic material ad hoc, and if necessary including
a treated surface, optimized for the sampling (roughness, plasma
treatment in order to increase hydrophilicity, . . . etc.) in order to
produce the sampling support.

[0070] Considering the foregoing, the device 10 according to the invention
therefore provides control of the two following parameters when placing
and removing the sampling support, for making the samplings more
reliable: [0071] Movement for placing the support [0072] Pressure
(controlled and reproducible)

[0073] Further, with the device 10 according to the invention, as
described earlier, the problem of the tear film may be solved, and the
sampling surface may be defined and localized always at the same location
and the eye may be immobilized, as well as recovery may be optimum
without damaging the taken eye impression.

[0074] As alternative embodiments, the device according to the invention,
which has just been described according to one embodiment, where it has
an axisymmetrical ring shape, may appear in any geometrical (sector,
round, oval, ovoid . . . etc.) shape able to be inscribed between the
diameter at the limbus and the diameter of about 22 mm.

[0075] A first alternative embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7a delimits a
sampling area 402 (and so the sampling support 411) formed by a half-disc
with a diameter of about 13 mm, the centre of which is tangential at the
limbus and placed on the upper area of the conjunctiva. The disc is
inscribed in the ring-shaped sampling surface with an inner diameter of
about 12 mm and an outer diameter of about 18.5 mm in this case.

[0076] A second alternative embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7b delimits a
sampling area 502 (and so the sampling support 511) as a sector with an
inner diameter of about 12 mm at the limbus and an outer diameter of
about 17 mm.

[0077] In both of these alternative embodiments, as well as in others
where the device according to the invention does not have an
axisymmetrical ring shape, the shoulders 33 and 34 form a single and same
shoulder inside the body of the device, as well as the notches 13 and 14
which are only a single notch at the periphery of the supporting means
12.

[0078] The device according to the invention described earlier therefore
operates by having the conjunctiva come into contact with a material
allowing controlled adhesion of the cells. Most particularly, it ensures
that: [0079] (i) the parameters which may influence the quality of the
taken sample (amount of non-lysed cells) are stabilized such as pressure,
application time and sampling kinematics.

[0080] Additionally with it, it is possible to: [0081] (ii) accurately
delimit a determined eye surface located on the pars plana; [0082] (iii)
immobilize the eye during the sampling time; [0083] (iv) isolate the
sample from the tear film and from the lid margins; and, [0084] (v)
prevent contamination of the sample (no contact with the eyelids, the
physician and the environment). And this while ensuring that it is as
atraumatic as possible.

[0085] The material allowing the sampling and forming the sampling support
11 (foam, woven or non-woven fabric filter, hydrogel, polymer whether
treated or not . . . etc.) is compatible with the present methods of
analysis, i.e: [0086] Conventional microscopy (with transparization of
the support) or confocal microscopy (without transparization) for
cytology; [0087] Flow cytometry (detachment of the cells from the
support); [0088] PCR assays (either detachment of the cells from the
support, or complete dissolution of the filter in the lysis solution of
the cells).

[0089] Other exemplary uses of the taken sample may relate to recovery of
DNA (within the scope of forensic medicine for example) or to the
analysis of germs present at the eye surface (viruses and bacteria).

[0090] It is also possible to search for atmospheric pollutants or even
radioactive particles in the sample and it would thus be simpler to
measure contamination than by means of a blood sample. When the eye is
open, it is continually in contact with its environment and exposed to
airborne substances or to substances present in the atmosphere, and in
some way, by collecting these substances, it is acting as a sensor.
Collection of substances collected by the eye with this method may have
advantages as compared with other techniques used such as skin biopsies
or blood samples. More generally, it is/will be possible to collect and
also analyze the composition of tears and to detect the content of
chemical mediators, hormones (insulin, . . . ), DNA, blood proteins,
ions, enzymes, in normal and/or pathological situations.

[0091] In view of the teaching contained herein, one skilled in the art
can identify various other configurations to the invention without
departing from the scope thereof.